Three Chimmeys sommelier shines at the Mandarin Oriental

12.05.2016

Petri Pentikäinen only began his new career as a professional sommelier at The Three Chimneys a year ago and yet has already won his place amongst the best twelve in the United Kingdom.

The winner of this year’s Moët UK Sommelier of the Year is Terry Kandylis from London’s 67 Pall Mall. After a highly demanding final at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge, Petri was awarded ninth place overall. Twelve finalists from all over the UK took part in a number of tests designed to challenge their skills, palate and ability to work under pressure. These included blind tastings of wines and spirits and spotting errors on a wine list.

Petri said of his experience: “ I was feeling surprisingly relaxed before the final. The regional heats had been much more nerve-racking, but this time I knew exactly what was coming and could relax into it more. Managing to reach the UK final has made me feel confidence in my developing skills as a Sommelier. It has shown me once again that no matter how much one knows about wine there is so much more to learn. And has certainly proved that the skill of interacting with the guests is just as important as the theoretical knowledge."

This is the fifth year that the Academy of Food and Wine Service competition has partnered with Champagne Moët & Chandon.“Over the five years that we have worked with the AFWS, our mission has been to enhance the learning and experience that every entrant, no matter which stage of the competition they reach, takes with them,” said Julie Nollet, Marketing & Communication Director for Moët Hennessy UK. “It is very clear that the UK has some of the highest standards of sommellerie of anywhere in the world, and we are very proud to be have been able to help this happen.”

The Moët UK Sommelier of the Year competition has been organised by the AFWS since 1980, and is internationally recognised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI).